One of the most exciting times for us as women was when we were engaged to our husbands.  Do you remember that feeling of elation?  “I’m engaged!”

‘Engaged’ is another word for something else you should be equally elated about.  But most women don’t know what it means when it comes to having an engaged baby.

When Does Baby Head Engage

Toward the end of your pregnancy when your baby is head down, they become engaged into position.  As your practitioner feels your baby’s position they may comment whether or not your baby is engaged.

Knowing what this means has major advantages.  When your baby is engaged, it means that

• their head is low enough into your pelvis to be set behind your pubic bone, and
• the larger part of their head is lower than your pubic bone.

Your baby can still be head down without being engaged.  But once they are, it means that labor is so much closer.

When your baby’s head is that low, the pressure they exert onto your cervix adds to the mixture for your body to start your labor and delivery.  So it’s a good thing!   But there are problems that can occur if your baby’s head isn’t engaged properly.

Relate:  Late Pregnancy Signs Before Going Into Labor

Issues When Baby Isn’t Engaged

Your body can try to start labor even when your baby isn’t engaged, and this is problematic for a number of reasons.

• early labor can last days
• your due date can come and go and your baby is born later than expected
• your dilation isn’t an accurate assessment of when your baby will emerge
• your doctor may opt for a c-section if no progress is made

And, of course, you don’t want a c-section when there are things you can do to help keep baby engaged.

Related:  9 Ways To Speed Up Labor And Get To Pushing

How To Help Your Baby Engage

Sometimes is often just doing the right movements and carrying yourself properly to ensure that your baby’s head is positioned the right way.

1. Sitting on a birthing ball and doing quick circular or figure eight rotations
2. Do the side lying release taught by Spinning Babies helps to lengthen the ligaments allowing for the room needed for baby’s head
3. Doing gentle side lunges and hip dips
4. Walking on a daily basis or exercising often
5. Visiting the chiropractor weekly in your last few months
6. Stretching safely at least once a day, preferably after exercise
7. Drinking enough water every single day
8. Tilting your belly forward while sitting tailor-style as often as possible

Related:  5 Easy Pregnancy Exercises Guaranteed To Make Your Delivery Faster

If you find that your baby isn’t engaged in the few weeks prior to your due date, your doctor or midwife can suggest a few manual manipulations that can be done right in their office.  

Many times babies will engage properly even without you trying to do much at all.  So it’s truly nothing to worry about most of the time when you’re taking care of yourself properly.

Have You Been Told Your Baby Isn’t Engaged?

MORE RESOURCES

• Natural Pregnancy Essentials
• Natural Birth Essentials
• Overdue?  Is Baby Engaged Yet? by Spinning Babies
• How To Relax During Childbirth:  3 Simple Ways To Ease Tension & Enhance Joy

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